[The Third]

  What EQ settings???????

20 3.1
25 2.6
31.5 2.2
40 1.5
50 1.5
63 1.1
80 0.4
100-1250 0
1600 2.2
2000 3.3
2500 3.5
3150 3.7
4000 3.5
5000 2.4
6300 -1.1
8000 -4.6
10000 -5.3
12500 -0.5
16000 -0.5
20000 2
 
 
In Equalizer APO. The sub-bass might be too raised for some but I find it perfect this way. I swear on this EQ setting, I am hearing many things in recordings I didn't hear with stock EQ. So let me know how you like it.
I couldn't completely remedy the sibilance because I wanted to maintain the original excitement of the can.

 

[DavidA]

Never found EQ to work well, sound usually started to degrade, but if it works for the individual then who am I to say to not use it.  The other issue is I change headphones to often to make it practical.

 

[The Third]

  Never found EQ to work well, sound usually started to degrade, but if it works for the individual then who am I to say to not use it.  The other issue is I change headphones to often to make it practical.

Did you try the above settings with Equalizer APO with your HE-400?

 

[DavidA]

  Did you try the above settings with Equalizer APO with your HE-400?

Once long ago when I first got the HE-400 and I wanted to bring the mids forward a little I used APO EQ.  That's when I noticed that while the sound was better balanced the bass was not as defined and lost some of its punch (best I can think of at the moment) and the highs were not as clear.
 
The other two reasons for not using any EQ is that 1) I change headphones quite often during a listening session (just tonight: HE-400, HE-560, HD-800, HD-700, HD-650, RS2e, SRH-1840, Momentum v1 on-ear, TH-600 and LCD-2) and 2) often my GF will just plug a different headphone in and go What is wrong because I was using an EQ setting.  Its of greater importance to keep the GF (or wife if we ever get married) happy, If my GF is happy, I get spoiled and I'm happy.

 

[The Third]

  Once long ago when I first got the HE-400 and I wanted to bring the mids forward a little I used APO EQ.  That's when I noticed that while the sound was better balanced the bass was not as defined and lost some of its punch (best I can think of at the moment) and the highs were not as clear.
 
The other two reasons for not using any EQ is that 1) I change headphones quite often during a listening session (just tonight: HE-400, HE-560, HD-800, HD-700, HD-650, RS2e, SRH-1840, Momentum v1 on-ear, TH-600 and LCD-2) and 2) often my GF will just plug a different headphone in and go What is wrong because I was using an EQ setting.  Its of greater importance to keep the GF (or wife if we ever get married) happy, If my GF is happy, I get spoiled and I'm happy.

Wow that's a massive collection of nice headphones you got there. I am swapping around with HP150, HE-400, DT770 600ohm premium, TH-X00's and HD 25 Aluminium myself  
 
Seems like things are going good for you. When are you going to propose to her ;p?

 

[thefitz]

Now that I've spent more time with the pleather pads, I've taken them off. I appreciated the slower, thicker bass and slightly tamed treble, but something strange was going on in the midrange. Almost sounded like the mids were going through a wah pedal left in one position (for all you guitar players)

EDIT: What's the difference between jergpads and Focus pads? They seem like the same principle.

 

[DavidA]

  Wow that's a massive collection of nice headphones you got there. I am swapping around with HP150, HE-400, DT770 600ohm premium, TH-X00's and HD 25 Aluminium myself  
 
Seems like things are going good for you. When are you going to propose to her ;p?

I don't think we're ever going to get married since we've both been married before, twice for me and once for her.  She has a daughter that just graduated from college and my son has just started his masters program and should be done in 2 years.
 
As for the collection of headphones, I've kept most of those that I've purchased but have given away a few Momentum on-ears, HD-598, Philips SHP-9500, and HE-560, see my profile for more info.

 

[The Third]

  I don't think we're ever going to get married since we've both been married before, twice for me and once for her.  She has a daughter that just graduated from college and my son has just started his masters program and should be done in 2 years.
 
As for the collection of headphones, I've kept most of those that I've purchased but have given away a few Momentum on-ears, HD-598, Philips SHP-9500, and HE-560, see my profile for more info.

Well keep going strong you two, and you're very generous gifting such pristine headphones. How would you compare the HE-400 to the HE-560. Or the HE-560 to the HD800 for that matter

 

[DavidA]

  Well keep going strong you two, and you're very generous gifting such pristine headphones. How would you compare the HE-400 to the HE-560. Or the HE-560 to the HD800 for that matter

HE-400: great for EDM and times when you want that nice tight pounding bass.  This was also my first planar so it has some sentimental value to me also.
 
HE-560: For jazz and some classical really smooth, can get sibilant with some sub-par recordings but nice overall balanced sound when driven properly.
 
HD-800: A good reference headphone along with the HD-650 to compare others to.  Does classical very well but amp picky and not forgiving of sub-par recordings, sometimes the sound stage is too wide and it sounds weird (T1 can be like this also).
 
I like to think of different headphones as picking the right tool for the job (genre)
 
PS: the on-ear Momentums were so cheap toward the end of last year since the new version came out, most were priced between $48 and $62 for used like-new from Amazon (they looked brand new-original box, and all accessories), I thought it was one of the best deals around and since those that I gave them to only had the cheap ear-buds that came with their cell phones the Momentums were a huge improvement to them and it was also a way of trying to get more of my friends involved with music in general.  (its much easier to get people interested in wine BTW)

 

[fishymamba]

So the cable on mine broke and I can't spend $80 on another one. Do any of you know any budget cable option available? I am ok with a soldering gun, so if someone can point me toward the connectors the cable uses and I can try to solder new ones. 
 
I saw one for $30 on amazon, but its sold out now

 

[DavidA]

  So the cable on mine broke and I can't spend $80 on another one. Do any of you know any budget cable option available? I am ok with a soldering gun, so if someone can point me toward the connectors the cable uses and I can try to solder new ones. 
 
I saw one for $30 on amazon, but its sold out now

Do you have SMC or 2.5mm TRS?  Do you want 1/4" or 3.5 TRS for amp end?
 
Go to ebay:
 
SMC connector: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HiFiMAN-Headphone-Connectors-PAIR-/141905579634?hash=item210a3b4e72:g:3fAAAOSwPhdVApE~
 
2.5mm: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-Gold-Plated-mini-Copper-2-5mm-Mono-plug-Audio-plug-F-soldering-connector-/161907731623?hash=item25b273eca7:g:ug4AAOSwv-NWYU2I (will also work with HD-700)
 
1/4": http://www.ebay.com/itm/Neutrik-NP2X-1-4in-Mono-Phone-Plug-Nickel-Contacts-Nickel-Shell-/230788890077?hash=item35bc16fddd:g:RpIAAOxycSdRzY2c
 
Check out the cable building thread for more info: http://www.head-fi.org/t/676402/diy-cable-questions-and-comments-thread
 
Hope that's enough to get you started

 

[ninjames]

Been awhile since I've been here. My HE-400 is still going strong and I love it with my Magni2/Modi2.
 
But I want something to use with my laptop -- I was wondering if there was ever a verdict on the Schiit Fulla specifically with the HE-400? I looked into the SD793-II but my laptop doesn't have coxial/RCA/optical, so that's a no-go for me.

 

[thefitz]

  Been awhile since I've been here. My HE-400 is still going strong and I love it with my Magni2/Modi2.
 
But I want something to use with my laptop -- I was wondering if there was ever a verdict on the Schiit Fulla specifically with the HE-400? I looked into the SD793-II but my laptop doesn't have coxial/RCA/optical, so that's a no-go for me.

Can't say I'm Fulla Schiit but I've used the HE-400 with a SoundBlaster E5 and it's freakin' awesome. The E5 has gobs of headroom.

 

[ninjames]

 
Can't say I'm Fulla Schiit but I've used the HE-400 with a SoundBlaster E5 and it's freakin' awesome. The E5 has gobs of headroom.

I really want to be under $150 for an amp+DAC combo for my laptop, and if possible, closer to $100.

 

[thefitz]

  I really want to be under $150 for an amp+DAC combo for my laptop, and if possible, closer to $100.

 
The FiiO E17/E18 series should be work checking out as well (I owned the E18K but didn't use it a whole lot with a laptop).
 
I just recommend the E5 because it has so, so, so many features and configurations. Awesome, easy to find drivers, a software suite, all sorts of stuff.